Venetian blind slat washing means



12, 3942. R. D. WHANN ET AL f 2,282,628

vENx-:TIAN BLIND .www WASHING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1941 4 Shcem'fs-Sheut l @wsa-1.4L DL mwN/vs Wm 7E@ F .LQ/viv;

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May 12, 1942. RD. WHANN ETAL VENETIAN BLIND SLAT WASHING MEANS Fi1ed Feb. s, 1941 @fram/vg YJ.

May 12, 1942.

R. D. WHANN ET AL 2,282,628

VENBTIAN BLIND SLAT WASHING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1941 4 sheets-sheet z INM/vrom, /PUJJELL D. WHA/VN, VVALrE/P MAL o/vy,

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May 12, 1942- R. D. WHANN ET AL I 2,282,628

VENE'IIAN BLIND SLA'I WASHING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 15941 4 Sheeis-Sheet 4 .MIN

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Patented May i2, i942 rica Y VENETIN BLEND SMT WAS 'i bili S i.; and Walter F. Maloney, In-

dianapo ind., assignors to 'llrimpe Supply Company, indianapolis, ind., a partnership composed of Emmett E. 'llrimpe and Walter F.

Maloney Application February 3, 194i, Serial No. 377,094

(Cl. fill-13) This invention relates to means for washing and polishing Venetian blind slats and has tor a primary object the provision of a structure which is self-contained and into which individual slats taken from the blind assembly may be fed and automatically advanced through the device to be delivered therefrom in a clean, dried. and polished condition ready for reassembly in the blind.

Aiurther important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the individual Slat may be held in such manner that it may be thoroughly scrubbed on both sides and along its edges by a scrubbing solution so as to remove tightly adhering dirt and the like and then have the scrubbing solution quite thoroughly removed from the slat as the slat advances on into a rinsing and polishing region of the device.

It is a. still further important object of the invention to provide means for rinsing and pol ishing the washed slat automatically in such manner that the slat will be delivered from the polishing region of the device in s thoroughly rinsed condition and practically dry. Following the polishing operation, there is a 'nal drying operation from which the slat is delivered in the completely cleaned and polished condition.

It is a still further important object of the invention to provide scrubbing, rinsing, polishing and drying means, all automatically operating in such manner that no damage arises to the nished surface o the slat.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention, such as the unique arrangement and combination or' individual elements to achieve those objects and advantages as set forth in the appended claims, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form oi the invention as illustrated more or less diag-rammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a structure embodying the invention and shown in partial, longitudinal, vertical section;

Fig. 2, a similar view in side elevation showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 3, a view in end elevation of the intake end;

Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section on the line -sl in Fig. l;

Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section on the line -5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section on the line 6-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7, a view in end elevation of the discharge end oi the device;

Fig. 8, a detail in vertical longitudinal section through the discharge doors of the devicel on an enlarged scale taken on the lines 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, a transverse vertical section on the line 9-9 in Fig. i; l

Fig. lo, a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line i-l in Fig. 1;

Fig. ll, a view in top plan view with the top cover members broken away; and

Fig. 12, a detail in vertical elevation from the inside oi the apparatus or the exlble gate means for normally closing the intake opening into the device.

Like characters oi reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the invention in its present form ls embodied in a cabinet divided generally into two compartments l5 and the outside of the compartment l5 over a slotted opening it through the wall of that compartment. This guide it has its top and bottom walls at least converging one toward the other to provide the smallest opening in cross section through the guide at the side thereof adjacent the wall oi the compartment. The opening over which the guide i8 is mounted is normally closed by means of upper and lower rubber gates 20 and 2l' respectively coming together one in contact with the other along a central horizontally disposed plane of contact axially aligned with the opening i9. These gates '20 and 2| are secured against the inner face of the Wall of the compartment It along their top and bottom edges respectively, the lines of securing forming hinge lines from which the two gates maybe f pushed inwardly to permit a slat (indicated by the dash lines, Fig. l) to be pushed through the guide l and between the gates 20 and 2|. The guide it is so formed that the slat must be entered therethrough to have the major width of the slat horizontally disposed.

Within the compartment I5 is mounted a guide 222 consisting essentially of an upwardly inclined bar extending entirely across the compartment and located in reference to the hole I9 to have its uppermost part at the elevation of the lower side of that hole I9 whereby the slat upon being inserted through the hole I9 and pushed between the gates and 2| will have its inner end strike the top side of this guide 22 to ride thereover vin a substantially horizontally disposed direction.

Continuing within the compartment l5 is a pair of spaced apart, horizontally disposed spray pipes 23 and 24 respectively, supported by a flow pipe 25 to one side constituting a supply pipe to both of the pipes 23 and 24. Each of these pipes 23 and 24 is provided with a plurality of discharge orifices, in the present form arranged to direct discharge respectively from the pipes 23 and 24 downwardly and upwardly and rearwardly to converge substantially along a horizontal line beyond the vertical plane of the axes of the two pipes. In other Words, when the Slat is pushed between the two pipes 23 and 24, fluid may be directed from thev pipes 23 and 24 to meet substantially on the top and bottom sides of the slat in a common vertical plane.

Continuing still further within the compartment l5 beyond the pipes 23 and 24 is mounted a pair of horizontally disposed shafts 26 and 21 each of which carries bristles extending radially therefrom and preferably spirally around each shaft to form the upper and lower revolvable brushes 28 and 29 respectively, Figs. l and 4. The shafts 26 and 21 are spaced apart one from the other in a common vertical plane in respect to their axes a distance which will locate the outer portions of the respective brushes one in respect to the other to inter-lap a trie or atleast be spaced one in relation to the other sufficiently close so that the bristles of the brushes will exert some pressure on the slat as it may pass thereA between. The lower shaft 21 in the present instance extends outwardly through the side wall of the cabinet, Fig. 2, to carry a driving pulley 30 on the outer end. The shaft 25 is driven from the shaft 21 by any suitable means, herein shown as by the spur gears 3l and 32, Fig. 4, these gears being located within the compartment I5. Still Within the compartment l5 and on beyond the brushes 28, 23 is located a pair of wringer rolls 33, 34 on parallel axles mounted within a frame 35. The lower roll 33 is located to have its upper surface substantially at the same elevation as that of a horizontally disposed line extending from the top side of that roller, substantially tangentially between the brushes 28, 29 and the uppermost edge of the guide bar 22. The axle 36 on which the lower roll 33 is mounted is carried on through the side wall of the compartment l5 to extend outside thereof and carry on its outer end a drive pulley 31, Figs. 2 and 5.

The upper roll 34 is mounted in the usual manner of a clothes wringer capable of being carried toward and away from the lower roller 33. In the present form of the invention, the axle of the roller 34 is carried by its ends by the yoke 38 which may be forcibly carried downwardly with'- in the standards of the frame by means of a stud 40 screw-threadly passing through the release bar 4l and revolved by a head fixed on the upper end of the stud in the nature of a wing nut 39. In the well known and usual manner, a quick release of the roller 34 from contact with the roller 33 is had by releasing the bar 4I by means of the catches 42, 43 carried respectively by the ends of the bar 4l and engaging over outturned ends of the standards of the frame 35, Fig. 5.. The exact construction of the supporting structure of these wringer rolls is old in the art. It is important that both the rollers 33 and 34 be of a highly resilient nature and should, therefore, consist of some substance such as natural or synthetic rubber that may be deformed readily when the slat is carriedtherebetween and then permit the rolls to return to their normal full diameters.

The roll 33 is turned by its pulley 31 in a counterclockwise direction in reference to Fig. 1 which, of course, turns the roller 34 in a clockwise direction. In this regard, the brushes 28 and 29 turn in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions respectively but at a higher rate of speed than that of the rolls 33, 34. This similar turning of the brushes 28 and 29 aids in permitting the passage of the slat therebetween as the slat is fed to the rolls 33 and 34, but at the same time the higher rate of speed of these brushes permits them to exert a frictional scrubbing action on the slat as it passes therebetween at a slower rate of speed than the peripheral speed of the ends of the brush bristles.

The discharge end wall 44 of the compartment I5 is provided with a hole 45 therethrough aligned in respect to the rollers 33, 34 to receive centrally through that hole 45 a slat coming from between the rollers. This hole 45 is normally closed by a pair of elastic gates 4B, 41 secured along their top and bottom edges respectively to meet normally one against the other across the horizontal plane extending through the tangential contacting line of the rollers 33, 34. The gates 46, 41 resemble in al1 respects the gates 20, 2l above described.

Preferably, although not necessarily so, a nozzle-like guide 48 `extends from the wall 44 into the compartment i6, the discharging end of the nozzle forming a guide for the slat as it passes therethrough, particularly serving to support the rear end of the slat. Within the compartment l5 and spaced away from the wall 44 is a pair of horizontally disposed, spaced apart spray pipes 49, 50 each being provided with a plurality of orices 5I, Fig. 9, arranged to direct ow of liquid from the pipes downwardly and upwardly respectively to converge substantially along a horizontally disposed line transversely across and in the path of a slat coming through the nozzle 48. In the form herein shown, each of the pipes 49 and 5B are spaced an equal distance above and below respectively the path taken by the slat through the compartment. The line of convergence of the fluid from the two pipes is to the rear of the pipes.

Arranged across a discharge opening in the end Wall 54 of the compartment I6, a distance from the pipes 49, 50 is a pair of wiping blades 52, 53 resembling the gates 46, 41 and being similarly mounted to meet along a horizontal plane to permit the slat coming from the nozzle 48 to press between the blades 52, 53 between their normally abutting edges. In the form herein shown, the blades 52, 53 are supported directly on the wall 54.

Beyond the wiping blades 52, 53 and within the next compartment 55 is mount-ed a pair of wringer rolls 56, 51, Figs. 1 and 6. These rolls 56 and 51 are substantially duplicates of the rolls 33 and 34 and are mounted in substantially the same manner to be carried by a frame 58. An important distinction in the mounting however, is that the frame 58 is so constructed that the axes of the rollers 56 and 51, while parallel, are inclined from the horizontal as indicated in Fig. 6. This means that the driving axle 59 which carries the roll 56 is provided with a universal joint 60l by their upper and lower ends respectively to swing normally to a closed position. m the present form of the invention, these doors '63, E@ are generally rigid in nature and are provided across their lower and upper meeting edges respectively with a suitable Slat-wiping material, such as chamois skin 65. When the doors 53 and 5t are in their normally closed positions, the chamois skin wrapped around each of the adjacent meeting edges is normally in contact, one strip against the other, to aiord substantially water-tight closure.

The chamber Il, in the present form of the invention, is supported by the wall 62 at the end of compartment 55 to extend rearwardly therefrom in axial alignment with the opening through that wall 52. In the present form of the invention, this chamber I? has a cross section materially reduced from that of the chamber 55. Within the chamber ll spaced rearwardly a distance from the doors 63 and 54 is a pair of Wiper blades 56 and Sl, Figs. l and 10. These wiper blades are hinged to swing on vertical axes by means of spring control hinges S8 which normally position the blades 66 and #Sl in a common transverse vertical plan across the chamber I'I. As indicated in Fig. l0, these blades do not have to come into contact one with the other. The opposing edges cf the blades 56 and 67 are covered with a wrapping of suitable blade-wiping material, such as strips of chamois skin '59,

The discharge end of the chamber I' has a discharge opening therethrough normally closed by the top and bottom doors 'itl and lI respectively hinged on horizontally disposed axes by spring-controlled hinges l2 normally positioning the doors in their closed positions within substantially a common vertically disposed plane, Figs. 7 and 8. These doors 70, TI are so mounted that they may be swung outwardly from the chamber Il by pressure against the doors from the inside of the chamber. The opposing edges of the doors l0, 'Il are covered with strips 73 of suitable wiping material, such as chamois skin.

The chamber lI is provided with some heating means to eiect complete and thorough drying of the slats as they are passed through this charn ber. This heating means may take one of two or both forms, such as by employing a motor driven ian and heater unit l, Fig. l, to discharge air by a suitable conduit i into the chamber Il. The unit M is not shown herein in detail since it constitutes a well known and standard type of unit commercially obtainable, and the details of it do not enter per se into the present invention. The other form of heating may be by a suitable electrical resistance unit 76 mounted directly within the chamber Il, Fig. l, and, oi course, both types of heating may be employed, particularly where the air is desired to be changed Within the chamber Il, such as would be occasioncd by the fan unit it creating a slight pressure within the chamber I allowing the air therefrom to escape, particularly upon the opening of the doors l0, lI upon passage of a slat therebetween.

A driving motor Il is mounted in any suitable location, such as upon a platform 'I8 carried under the compartments I5 and I6 by the supporting legs i9. A driving connection is had from the motor TI to the respective pulleys 30, 3l and 5I above mentioned. In the particular form, this driving connection takes the form of a driving pulley d on the shaft of the motor TI; a belt 8| extends from the pulley around the pulley 30 on the shaft 2l', the sizes of the pulleys being properly arranged to give the desired speed of the brushes 23 and 29 that are directly driven through the pulley 30. Then on the shaft 2'I outside of the pulley 30 is a pulley 82 from which a belt 83 extends to wrap around the pulley 6I and thereby drive the wringer rolls 5B, 5T in the compartment 55. On the shaft 59 inside of the pulley SI is a smaller pulley 84, Fig. 6, from which a belt 8l extends tosurround the pulley 3l on the shaft 35 that drives the wringer rolls 33, 34 in the compartment I5.

The compartment I5 is intended to be a wasliing compartment and, therefore,` will receive a Washing solution, preferably in a heated condition much above ordinary room temperature. The stand pipe 25, which is mounted within the compartment I5, extends on down through the door of the compartment l5 by suitable connections to connect with the discharge outlet of a circulating pump 38. The intake of this pump 88 is through a conduit 89 leading from the door of the compartment l5 to the pump 88.

The spray pipes t9 and 50 are located in compartment i6 are supportedby a standard pipe 90, Fig. 9, which runs through the door of the compartment It and thereunder to connect with the discharge of a second circulating pump 9|. The intake of this pump 9I is through a conduit 92 leading from the floor of the compartment I6 to the pump. The compartment I6 is intended to be the rinsing and wax-applying compartment. Rinse Water is placed in this compartment I6 together with a suitable wax miscible with water or forming an emulsion therewith so that as the slats may be rinsed in this compartment, a lm of the rinse fluid carried wax is left on the slat.

The two pumps 88 and SI may be of any of the well known types but for sake of convenience are herein shown as two separate pumps of the centrifugal type to be driven by the motor "I'I through a motor pulley 93, belt 94 and pump shaft pulley 95, the shaft 96, Fig. '1, being in common to both pumps. Each compartment I5 and It is, of course, provided with a suitable drain outlet from its floor.

To operate the device, a slat is inserted by one end through the intake `guide I8 to be initially wiped on the top and bottom faces by being forced between the gates 20 and 2|, which also serve to prevent escape of fluid from the compartment i5 outwardly along the slat. The slat is pushed on through into the compartment I 3 over the guide bar 22, between the spray pipes 23, 2d, to be thoroughly wetted thereby with thev jets of washing uid striking the upper and un der sides of the slat with considerable pressure; the slat being pushed on between the rapidly revolving brushes 28, 29 to have the inner end of the slat come between the wringer rolls 33, 34; whereby theslat may be released from the outer end by the operator sincethe rolls 33, 34 will then control further travel of the slat through the device. These rolls will grip the 4 aesacae slat with suiicient pressure to pull it on through the compartment i5 and direct it between the wiper blades 46, 4l to carry the slat on' into the.

compartment 55 between the'wiper blades 52. 53 to have the end of the slat engaged by the rolls 56, 5l which will further aid in pulling the slat on through the device and, of course, continue the travel of the slat after its outer end leaves the rolls 33, 34. The spacing between the two sets of rolls is made to be slightly less than the length of the shortest slat which will be washed in the machine so that any length of slat thereabove that minimum length will be conveyed without stoppage on through the machine.

Going back to the operation taking place in the compartment I5, the Washing solution in the compartment I5, which may be of any composition compatible with the finish on the slat, is continuously circulated from the floor of the compartment I5 through the pump 88 and back out through the spray pipes 23 and 24 in the compartment. The brushes 28 and 29 are acting on the slat while it is still wet from this spray, the spray in fact splashing over the entire interior upper portion of the compartment I5. The wringer rolls 33, 34 not only serve to convey the slat on` through the compartment I5 into the compartment I6 but, most importantly, serve as means for freeing the slat from the cleaning solution adhering thereto. A further solution freeing action is, of course, obtained as the slat passes with a wiping action between the gates 46 and 47, these gates further serving to prevent conducting of the washing nuid from the compartment I5 into the compartment It.`

The slat thus thoroughly washed within the compartment I5 while moving thereacross enters the compartment I6 to pass between the spray pipes 49 and 5d so as to receive with considerable pressure against its top and undersides the rinsing and waxing fluid. Of course it is to be understood that the rinsing fluid may be used alone if desired or a waxing uid may be used alone. However, it is found that the two may be very effectively combined in one mixture and applied simultaneously to the slat within the compartment I6. After the application of the cleaning fluid and wax. the slat passes between the wiper blades 52, 53 which not only serve to remove the excess fluid from the slat but also serve to exert a wiping, frictional engagement with the two faces of the slat to aid in bringing out the de sired gloss to be produced by the wax. Then im medately following that rubbing action, the slat passes between the nal wringer rolls 56 and 5l which, as above noted, are inclined from the horizontal for the very specific purpose of draining away from the area of contact of the rollers with the slat any fluid removed by the rolls from the slat. The excess fluid will, of course, drain downwardly to the lowermost parts of the rolls to drop by gravity or be thrown therefrom by centrifugal force, all Within the compartment 55 to be collected on the floor thereof. The amount, however, is slight and generally evaporates without reaching the door. It is to be noted that while the rolls 56 and 51 serve both as a driving means for shifting the slat and also as a drying means, these rolls also serve to some degree to apply a rubbing action to the slat passing therebetween by reason of the high degree of resilience of these two rolls with a tendency of the rubber-likematerial to pile up on the slat as the slat is gripped therebetween,

Slight traces of moisture may remain adhering to the slat and further removal of this moisture is had by the wiping action of the chamois skin bindings on the edges of the doors 63 and 6d, these bindings being forced against the top and bottom faces of the slat by reason of the spring type hinges supporting these doors. Then as the slat passes on into the compartment I1, the edges of the slat are thoroughly rubbed by being engaged by the wiper blades 66 and 61. During the passage of the slat through the compartment Il, this slat is subjected to the warm air therein which not only completely dries out any remaining moisture but also serves to heat the wax on the slats to spread it out in a more uniform nlm thereover and therefore makes the wax film more eective in protecting the slat when it is returned to its assembly. Finally the slat emerges from the compartment II through the discharge doors 'I0 and 'II to have the chamois skin strips thereacross give a final frictional wiping action to the top and bottom faces of the slat. The operator grasps the slat as it emerges from the compartment il and withdraws t therefrom after the other end of the slat leaves the rolls 5 and 5l. Obviously the length of the chamber Il is made to be such that the doors ld, ll are spaced from the rolls 56, 51 a distance less than the minimum length of a slat to be carried through the machine.

As above indicated, the machine is designed to handle individual slats. Of course, the Venetian blind must be disassembled by removing the usual cords to permit theslats to be taken out and passed through the machine one at a time. Then, of course, the clean slats are re-tlireaded into the assembly to restore the blind to its original form. The ladder tapes, if such are employed, may, of course, be separately washed or dry cleaned before receiving the cleaned and polished slats.

While we have herein shown and described our invention in the best form now known to us, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and we, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitation as may be imposed by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a. machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping of the slat in a dry state; means for directing a spray of washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature sufficient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on'both top and bottom faces of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second fluid onto both faces of the slat in a'direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means.

2. In a machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping off the slat in a dry state: means for directing a spray of washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush aasacas means. said rolls being of a resilient nature sufficient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom faces of the slat; means i for directing a spray of a second fluid onto both faces of the slat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means. said brush means consisting of revolving brushes; and means for revolving both said rolls and brushes to have said brushes revolve in the same direction as said rolls and at a higher rate of speed.

3. 'ina machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping on" the slat in a dry state; means for directing a spray of Washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature sufficient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom fac-es of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second fluid onto both faces of the slat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means; a chamber in said machine in which said brushes, washing solution spray means and rolls are located; a second chamber normally closed oif from the first chamber and containing said second uid spray means; a third chamber containing said rst rubbing means; and a fourth chamber normally closed off from said third chamber to conne said heat about said slat; and gate means between said chambers, opening upon pressure of the slat thereagainst to permit the slat to travel on through the chambers in sequence in a straight line direction.

d. In a machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping od the slat in a dry state; means for directing a. spray of washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush mea-ns for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature suficient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom faces of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second uid onto both faces of the slat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means; a chamber in said machine in which said brushes, washing solution spray means and rolls are located; a second chamber normally closed off from the first chamber and containing said second duid spray means; a third chamber containing said rst rubbing means; and a fourth chamber normally closed off from said third chamber to confine said heat about said slat; and gate means between said chambers, opening upon pressure of the slat thereagainst to permit the slat to travel on through the chambers in sequence in a straight line direction, said dry wiping means constituting a pair of opposing resilient members positioned across a slat entrance opening into said rst chamber.

5. In a machine for 'washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping off the slat in a dry state; means for directing a spray of washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature sumcient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom faces of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second uid onto both iaces of the slat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means; a chamber in said machine in which said brushes, washing solution spray means and rolls are located; a second chamber normally closed off from the first chamber and containing said second duid spray means; a third chamber containing said first rubbing means; and a fourth chamber normally closed off from said third chamber to confine said heat about said slat; and gate means between said chambers, opening upon pressure of the slat thereagainst to permit the slat to travel on through the chambers in sequence in a straight line direction, a pair of pressure rolls in said second chamber between said iirst rubbing means and said gate means between the second and third chambers, said last pressure rolls receiving the slat therebetween to carry the slat on into the third chamber and exerting a squeegee action on the slat, the second pair of rolls being inclined laterally to the normal plane of the faces of the slat passing through the machine.

6. In a machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping off the slat in a dry state; means for directing a spray of Washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the presence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature suincient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom faces of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second uid onto both faces of the slat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat while exposed to said last rubbing means; said further rubbing means consisting of a plurality of members resiliently biased into the path of the slat and having slat contacting surfaces characterized by the qualities of chamois skin.

7. In a machine for washing and drying Venetian blind slats, means for initially wiping oli the slat in a dry state; means for directing a spray of washing solution under pressure onto both faces of the slat at acute angles away from said wiping means; brush means for frictionally scrubbing the slat in the vpresence of said solution; pressure gripping rolls between which the slat is passed to pull the slat across said brush means, said rolls being of a resilient nature suicient to exert a squeegee action simultaneously on both top and bottom faces of the slat; means for directing a spray of a second fluid onto both 6 aaaaeae faces of the siat in a direction away from said rolls; means for rubbing both faces of the Slat; means for further rubbing the slat; and means applying heat to the slat While exposed to said last rubbing means; said further rubbing means 'consisting of a plurality of members resilientiy biased into the path of the Slat and having siat contacting surfaces characterized by the qualities of chamois skin, and being mounted to swing on axes angularly disposed one to the other to bring their contacting surfaces against the edges as well as both top and bottom faces of the slat; said heating means also serving to heat and tend to dry said member contacting faces.

RUSSELL D. WHANN.

WALTER F. MALONEY. 

